Our 1st Euro Tour to France .. HELP !!

The time has nearly come, we have been waiting months to go on our 1st French tour in our MH, and been waiting 7 years to take a holiday (too long I know) ..

We have a campsite already booked in Rives (SW Dordoigne region), the Eurotunnel is booked for an 20:30 crossing as we have chosen to travel through the night to arrive early doors at the site.

My big question is our route .. .. .. I am reluctant to travel through/around Paris based upon all the information and advise I have gathered, yet I want to take the fastest route possible. Therefore will travelling via Paris in the evening be more successful in terms of the amount of traffic, or should I still avoid it like the plague ??

I am looking for advise travelling as I have not driven to Southern France before.

Calais to Rives, around 560 miles.
That's one heck of a drive in one shot.
No need to go via Paris - go further West and take 2 days to get there!

GW

We are merely creatures on this planet, products of evolution (or even colonisation). We are born, we live, we die - The End. No hereafter, no heaven or hell, no angels - just..................The End........Forget about god and all that superstitious mumbo-jumbo - life's too short to waste time on fairy tales. Live for today for the rest of your life starts here.

Thank you for your fast responses ..
We are able to share the drive so I wont be doing it all myself, but our leaving time from the UK means going at night so we are going to do as much as we can through the night, which means very little sight seeing can be done in the dark !!
I am quite hopefull I know of doing it in one trip, but I want to go on the shortest route possible, and via Michelin that is via Paris. Will Paris through the evening be such a task as all the rumours suggest?

Our journey home will be the time to cruise back via Bordeaux and up the coast taking in some sights and using some Aires.

Don't forget France is one hour ahead so it will be after 10 o'clock before you clear Calais. We used to find that type of distance tiring even in a car and in daylight and we used to share the driving! Paris about three a half to four hours from Calais,no idea what traffic will be like at that time of morning I'm afraid.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2016

The daylight breaks,a picture show of endless takes
and the music's coming through on the radio..........

but I want to go on the shortest route possible, and via Michelin that is via Paris.

Click to expand...

It is but only by 10km. Either way that's a hell of a journey in one go. If you really want to do it non stop I'd recommend the motorways and just pay the tolls. They're much nicer to drive on than our own.

It's similar to the first leg of our trip next week end, we're going to Chamonix, but I won't be doing it in one hit. We've got a morning train and we're going to go about 4 hours from Calais and then stop for the rest of the day/night. We'll then have a similar drive the next day and be on the aire in Chamonix just after lunch on Sunday.

You'll get lots of advice saying never go on toll roads, take the minor roads, stop in every hamlet you see, take 8 months to get there and see France. A lot of people on this forum don't seem to understand that many of us are not retired and therefore have limited time away. We can't waste it all taking the slow scenic route

Nick

You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. So you might as well just do whatever you want.​

Have to say, when I had to do the drive Calais to home ( an hour south of Angouleme) in one hit, I got home knackered. Could take me 9 hours with brief stops to let dogs out, me go to the loo etc...
Doing the drive in the motorhome where I could stop for the night, have several cuppas, sleep, see to the animals properly, was much, much more relaxing.
Enjoy the journey as much as the holiday when you get there.

We have a campsite already booked in Rives (SW Dordoigne region), the Eurotunnel is booked for an 20:30 crossing as we have chosen to travel through the night to arrive early doors at the site.

Please be careful with plans to drive all night, you need to add the time from home to the Tunnel allow time to bug*er about with the shuttle and then start south, all this in a van with a cruising speed of probably 60 mph, after finishing up at work and home then packing etc you will be tired. Unless your both shift workers and used to night work I would suggest this is a very unsafe plan. Too many accidents have been caused by UK drivers falling asleep on French Roads, a French motorway at night is a very lonely place. pick an Aire near Calais and start fresh in the sunshine to following day and enjoy the trip rather than endure it!!

I would like to endorse the views of many here, please stop on the journey, there are plenty of good suggestions on this site somewhere if you search. At least plan a stop somewhere nice before you go. Saves you being desperate on the road. You might decide to travel on, but at least there is a plan B in place.
Be careful of Rouen, isn't that the place with all the low tunnels?

As said you are taking on a very long drive. France is vast and it's easy to be overambitious for your first trip. One thing to look out for if taking the Rouen route. Beware of height limits. There is at least one underpass there with VERY low clearance. There are the smug ones who say if you keep your eyes open it is signed but I got as far as hitting the height barrier - luckily not the bridge. Others have not been so lucky!

On your return trip take your time, there is plenty to see. Enjoy your trip.

I would like to endorse the views of many here, please stop on the journey, there are plenty of good suggestions on this site somewhere if you search. At least plan a stop somewhere nice before you go. Saves you being desperate on the road. You might decide to travel on, but at least there is a plan B in place.
Be careful of Rouen, isn't that the place with all the low tunnels?